Clean Air Act assaulted by Congress

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by JP Leous

In the wake of a House-passed Continuing Resolution that guts critical science-backed programs designed to protect our families, economy and wildlands from climate disruptions, Republicans from both chambers continue to mount their assault.

Observations across the country are clear: regional climates are changing and affecting communities, wildlands and wildlife in new and dramatic ways. Banning the mere “consideration” of climate effects in “implementing or enforcing any law” puts a blindfold on decision-makers at a time when we need to ramp-up the collection and analysis of scientific information in public policy decisions.

Just as S.228 takes climate skepticism to a new, dangerous level, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Sen. Jim Inhofe‘s iterations of the Dirty Air Act both gut the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon pollution through one of our nation’s oldest and best public health laws: the Clean Air Act. It is noteworthy that in their joint release on this bill, Reps. Upton, Whitfield and Peterson point to the potential costs of regulating pollution—but never mention the devastating costs (in dollars and lives) unmitigated climate disruptions will bring. Using the brakes on your car will eventually cost you to replace them, but the alternative – crashing into something – is much higher

For its part, the Obama Administration is not shying away from thinking about climate change and putting agencies in a position to address climate disruptions. In addition to the EPA moving forward with regulating carbon pollution, the Department of Interior recently released its long-awaited America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) report - integrating climate-smart conservation throughout the agency’s approach to land management. As part of AGO, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) also recently released their draft Vision for managing our wildlife refuges. Even if you don’t care about the more than 1,300 endangered or threatened species that depend on healthy refuges, I bet you’ll take notice of the economic impact these amazing places generate: $1.7 billion in economic activity, while supporting 27,000 private sector jobs. The value our Refuge System provides us every year through natural services (think improved water quality to nearby communities) is estimated at $4 billion.

Time will tell if agencies, including FWS, will be allowed to successfully address climate disruptions on our wildlands. For its part, the FWS Vision correctly highlights the cold hard reality that climate changes may preclude managing for historic conditions. As such, there is increased urgency to address stressors now (for example, tackling invasive species), work at a landscape level (rather than stopping at a refuge boundary), and continue monitoring and adjusting techniques as additional information is available. Of course, successfully addressing climate impacts will require a robust suite of resources and the latest available science—which makes budget cuts seen in the House-passed CR and bills like Sen. Barrasso’s so dangerous. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that investing in our green infrastructure can protect and create jobs across the country today, while keeping these special places resilient for a warming tomorrow.

Now isn’t the time to double down on climate denialism, and have to pay billions of dollars down the road for fixes that cost millions today. Now is the time to keep pushing forward on climate science and climate-smart conservation that will protect our communities and wild places for generations to come.

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Have many of you read the science on global (whoops its not warming any more) climate change? I've found it changes 4 times a year where I live.

Yes folks we have to do our part to care for the environment but this "climate change" hysteria is going to ruin us. Even the scientists that believe, say the actions we take will have very little affect in stopping it. So if we can't stop it maybe we aren't as much to blame as some would like us to think.

Actually the republicans are a worse terrorist threat to our nation than Al Qaeda. They will destroy the EPA and undermine all laws to protect our air and water. Our water is contaminated by chemicals from natural gas fracking operations. Mercury from coal plants is killing us and polluting our oceans. The artic ice is melting, our oceans are rising, and tornados are killing our people and destroying homes. The nefarious republicans care only about the money they get from big polluting natural gas, coal, and oil companies.

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Lindsay Spangler is a Web Editor and Producer for Care2 Causes. A recent UCLA graduate, she lives in San Francisco, California. She is most interested in the environment, civil rights, immigration rights, and international politics. less